NEWF Announces Total Prize Money of R1,020,000 for Next Chapter Live Pitch Winners and Takalani Mulaudzi Development Grant Recipient at #NEWF2025

Nature, Environment & Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF) Story Labs is excited to announce a total prize money of R1,020,000 awarded to filmmakers at the #NEWF2025 Congress. This includes R900,000 distributed among the winners of the Next Chapter Live Pitch and R250,000 awarded to the recipient of the inaugural Takalani Mulaudzi Development Grant. This funding aims to empower filmmakers, conservationists, and scientists in their pursuit of impactful storytelling focused on natural history, conservation, and environmental themes.

Takalani Mulaudzi Development Grant Announcement: On April 14, NEWF Story Labs proudly awarded the Takalani Mulaudzi Development Grant, a special initiative honoring the legacy of the late Takalani Mulaudzi, a matriarch of the South African film industry. This R 250,000 grant supports an African mid-career to experienced filmmaker developing a documentary feature film about the ocean.

The grant was awarded to Samira Vera-Cruz from Cabo Verde for her project Plastic Atlantis, which addresses the pressing issue of plastic pollution while celebrating the cultural and ecological richness of her home island archipelago.

Pragna Parsotam-Kok, Executive Director and Co-Founder of NEWF, stated, “Samira’s work exemplifies the spirit of the grant—deeply rooted in untold narratives, committed to environmental justice, and guided by a creative vision that uplifts African perspectives on the ocean.”

Next Chapter Live Pitch Winners: The Next Chapter stream within the Producers’ Lab Series provides selected Fellows with invaluable mentorship from industry professionals. Through a combination of hybrid workshops and personalized check-ins, the program supports filmmakers from the initial research phases of their projects to final delivery, enhancing their skills and career trajectories.

During the Fellows Summit, finalists participated in a two-day pitching workshop led by mentor Geoff Luck, culminating in a live pitch event at NEWF2025. The twelve finalists showcased their innovative project ideas, passionately addressing themes such as nature, wildlife, environmental challenges, conservation, and climate change resilience.

The esteemed jury, comprising Wangeci Murage (CEO Media Pros Africa), Tria Thalman (Jackson Wild Summit and Valleyman Films), Aurélie Reman (Sunny Side of the Doc), and Sifiso Khanyile (Anaphora Pictures), evaluated the pitches over three days of Congress.

Meet the Next Chapter Pitch Winners:

1. Damilola Solesi (Nigeria) - Ashianam: A young boy discovers he can communicate with sacred manatees, navigating the conflict between tradition and survival in his coastal village.

2. Matamba Kombila (Gabon) - Landfill Diaries (Working Title): A poignant exploration of the Mindoubé landfill site in Libreville, revealing the lives of those who sift through its waste for survival.

3. Nondumiso Masache (South Africa) - Taste of the Land: A journey into the resurgence of indigenous grains through the story of a Johannesburg baker committed to sustainability.

4. Robert Boyd (Sierra Leone and USA) - What My Ancestors Saw: A documentary that intertwines the history of Bunce Island with its rich biodiversity, showcasing the wildlife that thrives in the shadow of its past.

5. Shameelah Khan (South Africa) - How Long Park: A creative exploration of Baba Michael's journey, blending dream sequences with the beauty of Umlazi and its connections to place.

6. Antony Njoroge (Kenya) - Memo (Special Mention Prize Winner): A conservationist uses art and technology to save the last northern white rhinos, organizing a vibrant graffiti event in Nairobi.

Each winner will receive R150,000 to support the research, development, production, and post-production of their short documentary films. Additionally, the special mention prize of R20,000 was awarded to support the further development of a compelling project. Read more about the winners and their projects here.

“The Next Chapter program celebrates the diversity of voices and perspectives from across Africa, enriching the collective narrative of the continent's natural heritage. We look forward to witnessing the impact of these projects as they come to life”, said Noel Kok, Co-founder and Executive Director of NEWF.

More about #NEWF2025: We recently wrapped up the 8th annual NEWF Congress, which was a transformative week filled with inspiration, learning, and connection. The event ran from April 2 to April 4 at the Southern Sun Maharani Hotel in Durban, KZN. This year’s Congress brought together over 300 attendees from 49 countries, creating a vibrant community dedicated to advancing wildlife and conservation storytelling across Africa.

The Congress kicked off with a heartfelt blessing from renowned South African storyteller Gcina Mhlope, setting the tone for an event focused on sharing African narratives from an African perspective. The opening night featured a special preview of Wild Hope - Rhino Ops, part of the global Wild Hope digital series, which highlights the efforts of change-makers protecting our natural world.

Throughout the Congress, participants engaged in dynamic discussions, workshops, and panels that explored critical industry topics, including the importance of access, the influence of our past on the present, and the connections that bind us across continents. The return of the Match Made in Science session and the Live Pitch as part of the Next Chapter Producers' Lab were particularly well-received, fostering collaboration between scientists and storytellers.

About NEWF:

Based in Durban, South Africa, NEWF is a platform for African filmmakers, conservationists and scientists to engage, network and contribute through storytelling towards a shared vision of protecting the earths’ natural assets for future generations. What started out as an annual gathering in 2017 NEWF has grown to become a year-round impact and community-centric organisation that aims to remove barriers to entry, and build capacity for African nature, environment and wildlife visual storytellers.

The Stories of Africa that celebrate and advocate for the protection of her natural history are told by a connected network of visual storytellers organically led by indigenous African voices.

Remove the barriers to entry and build capacity in order toenable access, support inclusion, expand local audiences and foster a culture of equity for African nature, environment and wildlife visual storytellers.

To learn more, visit: https://www.newf.co.za/